Hans Blix
Meeting US officials
Plans to send arms inspectors into Iraq have been put on hold.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council remain deadlocked over how to resolve the row about the wording of a tough new resolution against Iraq.
The Chief United Nations Weapons Inspector, Hans Blix, will meet the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, today to try to work out a way to break the impasse. Russia, France and China want to await the outcome of sending inspectors to Iraq.
The United States and Britain want a resolution that authorises the use of force. The White House Spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said the Bush Administration was confident that such a resolution would be passed soon.
Hans Blix had earlier said he needed to finalise some matters with the Iraqi authorities before inspections could begin.
Mr Blix had hoped to begin inspections in two weeks' time. But following a meeting with the UN Security Council, he said it would be awkward if his team was conducting inspections and a new mandate arrived.
He also said some matters had yet to be worked out with Iraq such as access to presidential sites, arrangements for interviews with Iraqi witnesses and the safety of the weapons inspectors.
